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Gayther Refugee and Migrant Country Guides

Sri Lanka

Asia and South-central Asia
Help and assistance for Refugees and Migrants
GAYTHER REFUGEE AND MIGRANT COUNTRY GUIDES

00 | FOREWORD

Designed to help you
researching your options
Welcome to the foreword section of the refugee and migrant country guides. This section provides an overview of the guides and the interactive contents section, designed to help you navigate the guide quickly and easily.

Welcome

| TO THE LGBTQIA+ REFUGEE AND MIGRANT GUIDES

Gayther Sections - Refugee Intro
The Gayther Refugee and Migrant guides are designed to support people from the global community; however, they are not exclusively LGBTQIA+ guides, as they contain information, resources, and tips that can help anyone seeking refuge or fleeing challenging situations and circumstances where they live. The guides provide valuable and key information for anyone researching their options, a resource for everyone, allies, friends, and anyone looking to understand the world better, regardless of their sexuality or gender identity.

No one chooses to become a refugee or an economic migrant; it is typically something that happens to them and is often out of their control. Whether through those in power abusing their position with regard to policies and laws that target the vulnerable, or through war and conflict taking place around where they live. Though it is often forgotten, the cause is war, conflict, mismanagement and abuse of power; the victims are those affected, the refugees and migrants forced to leave their homes and all they have known.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where identifying as a refugee or economic migrant often comes with labels, unfair stereotypes and preconceptions. If you are someone that is seeking refuge, desperate for help and looking for safety and the ability to ensure your fundamental human rights, such as the right to shelter, food and access to healthcare, remember this was done to you, that you are not at fault, you are not to blame and though it may seem like the world is against you, many people, organisations and nations are willing and able to provide you with the support and help you need.

The relationship between those seeking refuge or assistance and those providing it is a social contract, a long-term relationship, based on trust and collaboration. In providing sanctuary, those receiving help will likely have to make a conscious commitment, one in which they work to integrate into their new homes and communities, as well as accept and understand that they are now in a country that has different customs and cultures than the ones they might be used to and know. Finally, everyone acknowledges that integration is the journey, one that will likely take time and commitment, not the final destination.

The guides showcase the state of individual countries, the ratings on the Safe Country Index, the Gayther LGBTQIA+ Equality Index, and the LGBTQIA+ Safe Country Index, all key indicators of how each country treats its people, especially LGBTQIA+ people. You will learn more about the political environment, refugee statistics, useful phrases in the local languages, healthcare information, details about the country as a whole, and, most importantly, a valuable tool that provides estimated distances to the nearest safe countries from where they are located. Whatever your situation, the guides are a helpful tool when researching your options.
We hope you get the support and help you need, and that your situation gets resolved quickly. Wishing you a safe journey from all of us at Gayther.

Contents

| IN PAGE LINKS

Gayther Sections - Phrases
USEFUL PHRASES
Discover all the everyday words and phrases in the languages spoken within the country or region. Phrases from greetings, how to communicate during an emergency, basic instructions and terms for directions and seeking guidance

01 | ABOUT

Learn more about the
country
Learn more about the country, from its official name to its flag and demonyms, as well as the nation’s standing on the safe country index.
Sri Lanka Flag
SRI LANKA
(pronounced - sree-lahnk-ah | sri ˈlɑːŋkə)
OFFICIAL NAME: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
DEMONYMS: Sri Lankan, Asian
Sri Lanka is part of the South-central Asia region in the continent of Asia. The name Sri Lanka is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit term for Holy island and is also known as India's Teardrop. It is in the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, near the equator and is 65.6 thousand square kilometres in size. The primary languages spoken are Sinhalese, Tamil and English; the capital city is Colombo, and the main currency used is the Sri Lanka Rupee.

Metrics

| KEY STATISTICS

AMBER
2024 SAFE COUNTRY ASSESSMENT


LGBTQIA+ Equality - Medium-Low
Medium-Low
LGBTQIA+ EQUALITY STATUS

What does the LGBTQIA+ equality status mean? Click here for more information
AMBER
2024 LGBTQIA+ SAFE COUNTRY ASSESSMENT


Geography

| ABOUT THE LOCATION

Refugee Country Guide - Geography Capital Icon
CAPITAL
Colombo
Refugee Country Guide - Geography Regions Icon
REGION
South-central Asia
Refugee Country Guide - Geography Continent Icon
CONTINENT
Asia
Refugee Country Guide - Geography Hemisphere Icon
HEMISPHERE
Tropics
Refugee Country Guide - Geography Area Icon
AREA
65610

(square kilometers)

Refugee Country Guide - Geography Ocean Icon
SURROUNDING OCEAN(S)
Indian Ocean
Region Image
Discover more on Gayther
COUNTRY AND REGIONS
To help you explore the various countries and regions, we have created links to relevant tools, services, and guides.
Gayther Sections - About

02 | REFUGEE CONVENTIONS & POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT

The political environment and
sovereignty
Discover more about the country’s political environment, sovereignty, and whether the nation has signed up to the Geneva Refugee Convention and protocol.

Political

| AND REFUGEE CONVENTIONS

Refugee Country Guide - Government Section (500px)

LGBTQIA+

| REFUGEE STATISTICS

The estimated refugee statistical information is adapted based on the refugee data finder service for the current year and by applying the formula used by the Gayther Population Index

Refugee Country Guide - Refugees (200px) - White
REFUGEES
10
Refugee Country Guide - Asylum Icon (200px) - White
ASYLUM
5
Refugee Country Guide - Total (200px) - White
TOTAL DISPLACED
15
Refugee Country Guide - Internally Displaced Icon (200px) - White
INTERNALLY DISPLACED
127
Refugee Country Guide - Stateless (200px) - White
STATELESS
3
Refugee Country Guide - Rank Icon (200px) - White
RANK
135
Find and explore
Knowing what is available and finding services and support in the country you plan to seek refuge or asylum can be challenging. The Refugee and Migrant Services directory was designed for organisations, charities and groups in countries around the world to showcase what they do and how they can help those seeking support. Explore the directory and find organisations, groups and services tailored to help people like you.

USEFUL PHRASES | CRIME TERMS

Common phrases and terms in the local language(s)
IMPORTANT:
All of the languages and terms featured within the useful phrases tool are literal translations and have not been validated or verified. The tool is provided free of charge, and by using it, you accept that you are doing so at your own risk
Refugee Country Guide - Translations Crime (500px)
CRIME
අපරාධය (sinhalese) | குற்றம் (tamil) | crime (english)
ABUSE
අපයෙදුම් (sinhalese) | தவறாக (tamil) | abuse (english)
AFRAID
බිය (sinhalese) | பயம் (tamil) | afraid (english)
ASSISTANCE
සහාය (sinhalese) | உதவி (tamil) | assistance (english)
ASYLUM
දේශපාලන රැකවරණ (sinhalese) | புகலிடம் (tamil) | asylum (english)
DEATH
මරණ (sinhalese) | மரணம் (tamil) | death (english)
DETENTION
රැඳවුම් (sinhalese) | காவல் (tamil) | detention (english)
DISPLACE
අතරමං (sinhalese) | இடமாற்றம் (tamil) | displace (english)
KIDNAPPING
පැහැරගෙන ගොස් (sinhalese) | கடத்தல் (tamil) | kidnapping (english)
PERSECUTION
පීඩා (sinhalese) | துன்புறுத்தல் (tamil) | persecution (english)
RAPE
ස්ත්රී දූෂණ (sinhalese) | கற்பழிப்பு (tamil) | rape (english)
SCARED
බය (sinhalese) | பயமாக (tamil) | scared (english)
WAR
යුද්ධය (sinhalese) | போர் (tamil) | war (english)

03 | NOTIFICATIONS

Key notices and information about the
country
Learn more about the current state of the country, where it stands on the LGBTQIA+ equality index, whether it has signed the Refugee Convention or Protocol, and key links to government and supporting organisational resources.
LAST UPDATED:  June 18, 2024
×  MEDIUM RISK  | LGBTQIA+ discretion is advised. Though the country may have some progressive laws in place, there might be issues for refugees and migrants from the community....read more

Latest

| STATUS

  • LGBTQIA+ RELATED | The country typically scores medium-high or medium-low within the Gayther Equality Index. The score means that the government and society are potentially transitioning regarding acceptance. Though the country may have some progressive laws in place in certain areas, they still need to make progress in the overall rights and protection for the wider local LGBTQIA+ community...more
  • CURRENT STATE | There are currently no known issues or armed conflicts taking place within this country
  • This country is categorised as being a flawed or defective democracy, where it follows democratic principles but where there are known issues...more
  • GENEVA REFUGEE STATUS | This country did not sign up to either the refugee convention or protocol, which outlines the agreed criteria, status and rights of refugees...more
  • LGBTQIA+ ASYLUM APPLICATIONS | Given this country's position on the LGBTQIA+ community, it is unlikely that they will accept asylum applications (membership of a particular social group) based on being persecuted for identifying with a specific sexuality or gender identity.
UNHCR Country Information Service
DISCOVER THE LATEST INFORMATION FOR REFUGEES, ASYLUM-SEEKERS AND STATELESS PEOPLE. LEARN ABOUT HOW TO APPLY FOR ASYLUM, RIGHTS AND DUTIES AND MORE



Government

| INFORMATION

Refugee Country Guide - Border Control Badge
SRI LANKA
BORDER FORCE OR ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
ඉලෙක්ට්‍රොනික ගමන් අවසර පද්ධතිය | ශ්රී ලංකාව | மின்னணு பயண அங்கீகார அமைப்பு | இலங்கை

The border force, customs or entry services are typically linked to the police or interior ministries within a government. All services and functions are designed to control and manage a particular country’s border. The entry services are typically related to the issuing and management of visas. Some countries may require a permit to enter, leave, or stay for a specified time

Refugee Country Guide - Government Badge
SRI LANKA
GOVERNMENT
ශ්‍රී ලංකා පාර්ලිමේන්තුව | இலங்கை பாராளுமன்றம்

A government is comprised of a group of people within a given country with authority to govern a country or state. Governments are typically made up of heads of state (presidents, prime ministers or chief), departments and ministries which represent specific functions and provide services for all those citizens living within the country

Refugee Country Guide - Immigration Badge
SRI LANKA
MINISTRY OF IMMIGRATION OR THE INTERIOR
ආගමන හා විගමන දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව | ශ්රී ලංකාව | குடிவரவு மற்றும் குடியகல்வு திணைக்களம் | இலங்கை

The immigration office or ministry is typically a department or organisation within a government that focuses on all things relating to immigration and residency. The department will often manage visa and residency applications, issuing of passports and national ids and all of the relevant rights for living within a given country

A tool to help during a crisis
With over 7,000 languages spoken globally, communicating with officials and those offering assistance can be challenging. The Refugee Communication Tool (RCT) is a valuable resource designed for refugees and those individuals providing assistance, enabling them to communicate with one another. The online tool enables users to select, point, and enter the necessary information in their language and in English, choosing literal translations from a list of over 100 of the most popular and commonly spoken languages globally. Explore the RCT today

04 | HEALTHCARE RELATED

key information relating to
healthcare services
Explore the type of healthcare, whether universal healthcare is available, the healthcare authority and the name of the healthcare service.

Overview

| HEALTHCARE INFORMATION

Gayther Healthcare - Universal Healthcare
UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE COVERAGE
Yes
Gayther Healthcare - Healthcare Category
HEALTHCARE CATEGORY
National Health Service (Beveridge)
Gayther Healthcare - Healthcare Authority
HEALTHCARE AUTHORITY
Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine
Gayther Healthcare - Healthcare Name
HEALTHCARE NAME
சுகாதார சேவைகள் | සෞඛ්ය සේවා | cukātāra cēvaikaḷ | saukhya sēvā
If you are residing within and are travelling to any of the European Union countries (27 countries), Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, you might be eligible to the EHIC, which provides you with access to emergency care for free or at a reduced rate depending on the country.
Discover more on Gayther
HEALTH
To learn more about health-related resources, we have created links to relevant tools, services and guides.
Gayther Sections - Health

05 | EMERGENCY INFORMATION

All the essential information needed during an
emergency
When the worst happens, it is important to establish quickly the numbers and ways to reach out to get the help you need. The emergency contacts section provides telephone numbers for emergency services, including ambulances, police and fire rescue.

Emergency

| SERVICES

Sinhalese | Tamil | English
Official Language(s) spoken in Sri Lanka
The emergency service numbers within Sri Lanka to call during an emergency
  • AMBULANCE - when someone is seriously ill or injured, and their life is at risk (emergency medical services and technical rescue)
  • POLICE - when you feel in danger, are in dangerous situations or have witnessed a crime (law enforcement, criminal investigation, and maintenance of public order)
  • FIRE RESCUE - when a fire occurs or where a person needs rescue (fire suppression, technical rescue, and hazardous materials mitigation)


Ambulance
AMBULANCE
ගිලන් රථය (sinhalese) | ஆம்புலன்ஸ் (tamil) | ambulance (english)

dial
110

Call Ambulance Service Now

Police
POLICE
පොලිසිය (sinhalese) | காவல் (tamil) | police (english)

dial
119

Call Police Now

Fire
FIRE
ගිනි (sinhalese) | தீ (tamil) | fire (english)

dial
110

Call Fire Service Now


Support

| GROUPS

When going through something challenging, we often feel alone and unable to view the situation objectively. Negative feelings and thoughts can make a situation seem worse and make us feel like no hope or end is in sight. Whatever the problem, issue, or challenge, someone has likely faced similar life obstacles. Issues they are going through now or ones that they have already overcome.

Support groups and services are typically made up of trained professionals and people who have faced similar problems. They have either overcome challenges or found ways to cope with and manage them. These exceptional groups and services are extraordinary, especially those needing a lifeline. Thousands of local and national groups and services help millions of people worldwide. Many of these people have faced some of the most demanding challenges of their lives.

Discover support groups and resources available within the country or region.
Discover more on Gayther
EMERGENCY RESOURCES
To help you get help quickly, we have created links to relevant tools, services and guides.
Gayther Sections - Emergency

06 | DISTANCE TO SAFE COUNTRIES

The distance to the top five
Safe Countries
A safe country of origin, defined within the Geneva Convention, is free from international or internal armed conflict. One that does not persecute, use the threat of violence or torture its citizens, whether temporarily or permanently. Furthermore, it neither endorses nor implements inhuman, degrading treatments or punishments. Lastly, it operates a democratic system, and the general political environment allows for civil freedoms. Each country implements its own definition of what makes a safe country, and all countries do not use one list

Top

| FIVE COUNTRIES

Take pride in
Leaving your country, all that you know, often your family and people that you care about, to venture out in the world to find a safe place takes real courage. Many face challenges, obstacles and even when they finally find a safe place to settle, they quickly discover a whole new set of problems, from language barriers to new cultural and societal traditions, all of which can be complicated for many refugees. The pride in series showcases the bravery and resilience of the many refugees around the world, people who, through no fault of their own, face difficult decisions every day. Explore the pride in series today.

USEFUL PHRASES | PROCESSING

Common phrases and terms in the local language(s)
IMPORTANT:
All of the languages and terms featured within the useful phrases tool are literal translations and have not been validated or verified. The tool is provided free of charge, and by using it, you accept that you are doing so at your own risk
Refugee Country Guide - Translations Process (500px)
PROCESSING
සැකසුම් (sinhalese) | செயலாக்க (tamil) | processing (english)
APPLICANT
ඉල්ලුම්කරු (sinhalese) | விண்ணப்பதாரர் (tamil) | applicant (english)
APPLICATION FORM
අයදුම්පත (sinhalese) | விண்ணப்ப படிவம் (tamil) | application form (english)
ASYLUM SEEKER
සරණාගතභාවය (sinhalese) | புகலிடம் கோருவோர் (tamil) | asylum seeker (english)
CITIZENSHIP
පුරවැසි (sinhalese) | குடியுரிமை (tamil) | citizenship (english)
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
මුල් රට (sinhalese) | பிறந்த நாடு (tamil) | country of origin (english)
DATE OF BIRTH
උපන්දිනය (sinhalese) | பிறந்த தேதி (tamil) | date of birth (english)
DISPLACEMENT
අවතැන් (sinhalese) | இடப்பெயர்ச்சி (tamil) | displacement (english)
GENDER
ස්ත්රී පුරුෂ භාවය (sinhalese) | பாலினம் (tamil) | gender (english)
MIGRANT
සංක්රමණික (sinhalese) | புலம் பெயர்ந்த (tamil) | migrant (english)
NAME
නාමය (sinhalese) | பெயர் (tamil) | name (english)
NATIONALITY
ජාතිය (sinhalese) | தேசிய (tamil) | nationality (english)
PROOF
සාක්ෂි (sinhalese) | ஆதாரம் (tamil) | proof (english)
REFUGEE
සරණාගත (sinhalese) | அகதி (tamil) | refugee (english)
RELIGION
ආගම (sinhalese) | மதம் (tamil) | religion (english)
RETURN
ආපසු (sinhalese) | திரும்ப (tamil) | return (english)
SEXUALITY
ලිංගිකත්වය (sinhalese) | பாலியல் (tamil) | sexuality (english)
STATUS
තත්ත්වය (sinhalese) | நிலையை (tamil) | status (english)
TRANSIT
සංක්රාන්තිය (sinhalese) | போக்குவரத்து (tamil) | transit (english)

07 | LGBTQIA+ RELATED

The laws, treatment and attitudes towards the
LGBTQIA+ community
Explore the laws and societal attitudes the country has regarding the LGBTQIA+ community. Whether from the community, an ally or someone concerned about where they are visiting, the LGBTQIA+-related section highlights many key areas that might affect visitors and those living within the country or region

IMPORTANT: This section has been created to provide general and basic understandings regarding LGBTQIA+ global rights and treatments. It is essential that before travelling, you independently establish information relating specifically to your requirements and circumstances. If you are unsure or concerned about your safety regarding visiting a specific destination, it is advisable to consult with your country’s foreign office, which will provide advice and guidance regarding destinations around the world.

Equality

| STATUS

LGBTQIA+ Equality - Medium-Low
Medium-Low
LGBTQIA+ EQUALITY STATUS

Key

| AREAS

Refugee Country Guide - LGBTQIA+ Population Icon
LGBTQIA+ POPULATION
c.579.3 thousand
Refugee Country Guide - LGBTQIA+ Dollar Icon
LGBTQIA+ DOLLAR
c.1.2 billion
Gayther Sections- Life Sections
LGBTQIA+ ILLEGAL
Yes
Refugee Country Guide - LGBTQIA+ Anti-Discrimination Icon
ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS IN PLACE
No
(none in place)
Discover more about the community
Learn more about how this country treats members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The equality index is based at a national level and covers areas ranging from same-sex marriages to gender recognition
Refugee Country Guide - LGBTQIA+ Same-Sex Unions Icon
SAME-SEX UNIONS RECOGNISED
No
Refugee Country Guide - LGBTQIA+ Marriage Icon
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE RECOGNISED
No
Refugee Country Guide - LGBTQIA+ Gender Recognition Icon
LEGAL GENDER RECOGNITION
Yes
Refugee Country Guide - LGBTQIA+ Gay Conversion Therapy Icon
GAY CONVERSION THERAPY BANNED
No

LGBTQIA+

| TERMS

Learn the literal translations of key LGBTQIA+ terms in the local languages/dialects
Lesbian Flag
Lesbian
ලෙස්බියන් (sinhalese) | லெஸ்பியன் (tamil) | lesbian (english)
Gay Flag
Gay
සමලිංගික (sinhalese) | கே (tamil) | gay (english)
Bisexual Flag
Bisexual
ද්වීලිංගික (sinhalese) | இருபால் (tamil) | bisexual (english)
Transgender Flag
Transgender
සංක්‍රාන්ති ලිංගික (sinhalese) | திருநங்கைகள் (tamil) | transgender (english)
Intersex Flag
Intersex
අන්තර් ලිංගික (sinhalese) | இன்டர்செக்ஸ் (tamil) | intersex (english)
Asexual Flag
Asexual
අලිංගික (sinhalese) | கலவியிலாச் (tamil) | asexual (english)
Questioning Flag
Questioning
ප්‍රශ්න කිරීම (sinhalese) | கேள்வி (tamil) | questioning (english)
Community Flag
Community
ප්රජාව (sinhalese) | சமூகத்தில் (tamil) | community (english)
Gender Flag
Gender
ස්ත්‍රී පුරුෂ භාවය සම්බන්ධ (sinhalese) | பாலினம் தொடர்பான (tamil) | gender related (english)
Sexuality Flag
Sexuality
ලිංගිකත්වය සම්බන්ධ (sinhalese) | பாலியல் தொடர்பான (tamil) | sexuality related (english)
Non-Bingary Flag
Non-Binary
ද්විමය නොවන (sinhalese) | பைனரி அல்லாத (tamil) | non-binary (english)
Queer Flag
Queer
විකාර (sinhalese) | விசித்திரமான (tamil) | queer (english)
Refugee Country Guide - Language Country (300px)
Learn more about what it means to be an
Identifying as a refugee or seeking asylum is not something people choose; instead, it is something that happens. Unfortunately, conflicts occur at any given time around the world. Whether a civil war or a battle between two or more countries, all severely impact the civilian population. Poverty, social inequality, racism, persecution, and so many more factors mean those affected have no choice but to leave their homes in search of a better future. For those affected, returning home would likely result in having to face vigilante militias, long prison sentences or, in some cases, certain death. For most refugees, the only solution is to relocate to another, safer country, because staying at home or within their country poses a significant risk. For the LGBTQIA+ community, with over a quarter of the world still criminalising same-sex relationships, the risk is very real. Learn more about what it means to be an LGBTQIA+ refugee, a resource-packed guide complete with helpful resources and interactive tools.
Discover more on Gayther
LGBTQIA+
We have created links to relevant tools, services and guides to learn more about all things relating to the LGBTQIA+ community.
Gayther Guides - LGBTQIA+

08 | COUNTRY NAME

The country name in
many languages

Discover the name of this country in other languages. The name is sorted by country name and languages spoken (in alphabetical order) and can be accessed by clicking on the quick links below. If you want to learn more about any given country, please click on the flag or the country name, which will open the required content in a new window



A  
Afghanistan Flag
- (dari) | سریلانکا (pashto)
Albania Flag
sri lanka (albanian)
Algeria Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic) | sri lanka (french)
American Samoa Flag
sri lanka (samoan)
Andorra Flag
sri lanka (catalan)
Angola Flag
sri lanka (portuguese)
Anguilla Flag
sri lanka (english)
Antigua and Barbuda Flag
sri lanka (english)
Argentina Flag
sri lanka (spanish)
Armenia Flag
շրի լանկա (armenian)
Australia Flag
sri lanka (english)
Austria Flag
sri lanka (german)
Azerbaijan Flag
şri lanka (azerbaijani)


B  
Bahamas, The Flag
sri lanka (english)
Bahrain Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic)
Bangladesh Flag
শ্রীলংকা (bengali)
Barbados Flag
sri lanka (english)
Belarus Flag
шры ланка (belarusian) | шри-ланка [shri-lanka] (russian)
Belgium Flag
sri lanka (dutch) | sri lanka (french) | sri lanka (german)
Belize Flag
sri lanka (english) | sri lanka (spanish)
Benin Flag
sri lanka (french)
Bermuda Flag
sri lanka (english)
Bhutan Flag
- (dzongkha)
Bolivia Flag
sri lanka (spanish) | - (aymara) | - (quechua)
Bosnia and Herzegovina Flag
šri lanka (bosnian) | šri lanka (croatian) | шри ланка [shri lanka] (serbian)
Botswana Flag
sri lanka (english) | - (tswana)
Brazil Flag
sri lanka (portuguese)
British Virgin Islands Flag
sri lanka (english)
Brunei Darussalam Flag
sri lanka (malay) | sri lanka (english)
Bulgaria Flag
шри ланка (bulgarian)
Burkina Faso Flag
sri lanka (french)
Burundi Flag
sri lanka (french) | - (kirundi)


C  
Cambodia Flag
ស្រី​លង្កា (khmer)
Cameroon Flag
sri lanka (english) | sri lanka (french)
Canada Flag
sri lanka (english) | sri lanka (french)
Cape Verde (Cabo Verde) Flag
sri lanka (portuguese)
Caribbean Netherlands Flag
sri lanka (dutch) | sri lanka (english) | - (papiamentu)
Cayman Islands Flag
sri lanka (english)
Central African Republic Flag
- (sango) | sri lanka (french)
Chad Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic) | sri lanka (french)
Channel Islands Flag
sri lanka (english) | sri lanka (french)
Chile Flag
sri lanka (spanish)
China Flag
斯里兰卡 [sīlǐlánkǎ] (mandarin)
Colombia Flag
sri lanka (spanish)
Comoros Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic) | - (comorian) | sri lanka (french)
Congo, D.Rep Flag
sri lanka (french)
Congo, Rep Flag
sri lanka (french)
Cook Islands Flag
sri lanka (english) | sri lanka (māori)
Costa Rica Flag
sri lanka (spanish)
Croatia Flag
šri lanka (croatian)
Cuba Flag
sri lanka (spanish)
Cyprus Flag
σρι λάνκα [sri lán'ka] (greek) | sri lanka (turkish)
Czech Republic (Czechia) Flag
srí lanka (czech)


D E F  
Denmark Flag
sri lanka (danish)
Djibouti Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic) | sri lanka (french)
Dominica Flag
sri lanka (english)
Dominican Republic Flag
sri lanka (spanish)
East Timor (Timor-Leste) Flag
sri lanka (portuguese) | - (tetum)
Ecuador Flag
sri lanka (spanish)
Egypt Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic)
El Salvador Flag
sri lanka (spanish)
Equatorial Guinea Flag
sri lanka (spanish) | sri lanka (french)
Eritrea Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic) | ስሪላንካ (tigrinya) | - (tigre) | sri lanka (english)
Estonia Flag
sri lanka (estonian)
Ethiopia Flag
ስሪ ላንካ (amharic)
Falkland Islands (Las Malvinas) Flag
sri lanka (english)
Fiji Flag
- (fijian) | - (hindustani) | sri lanka (english)
Finland Flag
sri lanka (finnish) | sri lanka (swedish)
France Flag
sri lanka (french)
French Guiana Flag
sri lanka (french) | sri lanka (french guianese creole)
French Polynesia Flag
sri lanka (french)


G  
Gabon Flag
sri lanka (french)
Gambia, The Flag
sri lanka (english)
Georgia Flag
- (abkhaz) | შრი ლანკა (georgian) | - (ossetic)
Germany Flag
sri lanka (german)
Ghana Flag
sri lanka (english)
Gibraltar Flag
sri lanka (english)
Greece Flag
σρι λάνκα [sri lán'ka] (greek)
Greenland Flag
- (kalaallisut) | sri lanka (danish)
Grenada Flag
sri lanka (english)
Guadeloupe Flag
sri lanka (spanish)
Guam Flag
sri lanka (english) | - (chamorro)
Guatemala Flag
sri lanka (spanish)
Guinea Flag
sri lanka (french)
Guinea-Bissau Flag
sri lanka (portuguese)
Guyana Flag
sri lanka (english)


H I J  
Haiti Flag
sri lanka (french) | sri lanka (haitian creole)
Honduras Flag
sri lanka (spanish)
Hong Kong Flag
斯里蘭卡 [sīlǐlánkǎ] (cantonese) | sri lanka (english)
Hungary Flag
sri lanka (hungarian)
Iceland Flag
sri lanka (icelandic)
India Flag
श्री लंका (hindi) | sri lanka (english)
Indonesia Flag
srilanka (indonesian)
Iran, Islamic Republic of Flag
سری لانکا (persian)
Iraq Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic)
Ireland Flag
srí lanca (irish (gaelic)) | sri lanka (english)
Isle of Man Flag
sri lanka (english)
Israel Flag
סרי לנקה (hebrew)
Italy Flag
sri lanka (italian)
Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire) Flag
sri lanka (french)
Jamaica Flag
sri lanka (english)
Japan Flag
スリランカ (japanese)
Jordan Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic)


K L  
Kazakhstan Flag
шри-ланка (kazakh)
Kenya Flag
sri lanka (swahili) | sri lanka (english)
Kiribati Flag
- (gilbertese) | sri lanka (english)
Korea, North (D.Rep) Flag
스리랑카 [seulilangka] (korean)
Korea, South (Rep) Flag
스리랑카 [seulilangka] (korean)
Kosovo, Republic of Flag
sri lanka (albanian) | шри ланка [shri lanka] (serbian)
Kuwait Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic)
Kyrgyzstan Flag
шри ланка (kirghiz)
Laos Flag
ສີ​ລັງ​ກາ (lao)
Latvia Flag
šrilanka (latvian)
Lebanon Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic)
Lesotho Flag
sri lanka (sesotho) | sri lanka (english)
Liberia Flag
sri lanka (english)
Libya Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic)
Liechtenstein Flag
sri lanka (german)
Lithuania Flag
šri lanka (lithuanian)
Luxembourg Flag
sri lanka (luxembourgish) | sri lanka (french) | sri lanka (german)


M  
Macau Flag
斯里蘭卡 [sīlǐlánkǎ] (cantonese) | sri lanka (portuguese)
Madagascar Flag
sri lanka (malagasy) | sri lanka (french)
Malawi Flag
sri lanka (chichewa) | sri lanka (english)
Malaysia Flag
sri lanka (malay)
Maldives Flag
- (dhivehi)
Mali Flag
sri lanka (french)
Malta Flag
sri lanka (maltese) | sri lanka (english)
Marshall Islands Flag
- (marshallese) | sri lanka (english)
Martinique Flag
sri lanka (french)
Mauritania Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic)
Mauritius Flag
sri lanka (french) | sri lanka (english)
Mayotte Flag
sri lanka (french)
Mexico Flag
sri lanka (spanish)
Micronesia, F.S Flag
sri lanka (english) | - (chuukese) | - (kosraean) | - (pohnpeian) | - (yapese)
Moldova Flag
sri lanka (moldovan)
Monaco Flag
sri lanka (french)
Mongolia Flag
шри ланка (mongolian)
Montenegro Flag
шри ланка [shri lanka] (montenegrin)
Morocco Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic)
Mozambique Flag
sri lanka (portuguese)
Myanmar Flag
သီရိလင်္ကာနိုင်ငံ (burmese)


N  
Namibia Flag
sri lanka (english)
Nauru Flag
- (nauruan) | sri lanka (english)
Nepal Flag
श्रीलंका (nepali)
Netherlands Flag
sri lanka (dutch)
Netherlands Antilles Flag
sri lanka (english)
New Caledonia Flag
sri lanka (french)
New Zealand Flag
sri lanka (english) | sri lanka (māori)
Nicaragua Flag
sri lanka (spanish)
Niger Flag
sri lanka (french)
Nigeria Flag
sri lanka (english)
Niue Flag
- (niuean) | sri lanka (english)
North Macedonia Flag
шри ланка (macedonian)
Northern Mariana Islands Flag
sri lanka (english) | - (chamorro) | - (carolinian)
Norway Flag
sri lanka (norwegian)


O P Q  
Oman Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic)
Pakistan Flag
سری لنکا (urdu)
Palau Flag
- (palauan) | sri lanka (english)
Palestine, State of Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic)
Panama Flag
sri lanka (spanish)
Papua New Guinea Flag
sri lanka (english)
Paraguay Flag
sri lanka (spanish) | શ્રિલંકા (guaraní)
Peru Flag
sri lanka (spanish) | - (quechua)
Philippines Flag
sri lanka (filipino)
Pitcairn Islands Flag
- (pitkern) | sri lanka (english)
Poland Flag
sri lanka (polish)
Portugal Flag
sri lanka (portuguese)
Puerto Rico Flag
sri lanka (spanish) | sri lanka (english)
Qatar Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic)


R S  
Reunion Flag
sri lanka (french)
Romania Flag
sri lanka (romanian)
Russia Flag
шри-ланка [shri-lanka] (russian)
Rwanda Flag
sri lanka (kinyarwanda) | sri lanka (english) | sri lanka (french)
Saint Barthelemy (Barts) Flag
sri lanka (french)
Saint Helena Flag
sri lanka (english)
Saint Kitts and Nevis Flag
sri lanka (english)
Saint Lucia Flag
sri lanka (english)
Saint Martin (Dutch) Flag
sri lanka (dutch) | sri lanka (english)
Saint Martin (French) Flag
sri lanka (french)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon Flag
sri lanka (french)
Samoa Flag
sri lanka (samoan) | sri lanka (english)
San Marino Flag
sri lanka (italian)
Sao Tome and Principe Flag
sri lanka (portuguese)
Saudi Arabia Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic)
Senegal Flag
sri lanka (french)
Serbia Flag
шри ланка [shri lanka] (serbian)
Seychelles Flag
- (seychellois creole) | sri lanka (english) | sri lanka (french)
Sierra Leone Flag
sri lanka (english)
Singapore Flag
斯里兰卡 [sīlǐlánkǎ] (mandarin) | sri lanka (english) | sri lanka (malay) | இலங்கை (tamil)
Slovakia Flag
srí lanka (slovak)
Slovenia Flag
šrilanka (slovene)
Solomon Islands Flag
sri lanka (english)
Somalia Flag
sri lanka (somali) | سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic)
South Africa Flag
sri lanka (afrikaans) | sri lanka (english) | - (southern ndebele) | sri lanka (sesotho) | i-sri lanka (zulu) | - (northern sotho) | - (tswana) | - (swazi) | - (venda) | - (tsonga)
South Sudan Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic)
Spain Flag
sri lanka (spanish) | sri lanka (catalan) | sri lanka (galician)
Sri Lanka Flag
ශ්රී ලංකාව (sinhalese) | இலங்கை (tamil) | sri lanka (english)
Sudan Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic)
Suriname Flag
sri lanka (dutch)
Swaziland (Eswatini) Flag
- (swazi) | sri lanka (english)
Sweden Flag
sri lanka (swedish)
Switzerland Flag
sri lanka (german) | sri lanka (french) | sri lanka (italian) | sri lanka (romansh)
Syria Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic) | sri lanka (french) | sri lanka (english)


T  
Taiwan Flag
斯里兰卡 [sīlǐlánkǎ] (mandarin)
Tajikistan Flag
шри-ланка (tajik)
Tanzania Flag
sri lanka (swahili) | sri lanka (english)
Thailand Flag
ศรีลังกา (thai)
Togo Flag
sri lanka (french)
Tokelau Flag
- (tokelauan)
Tonga Flag
- (tongan) | sri lanka (english)
Trinidad and Tobago Flag
sri lanka (english)
Tunisia Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic) | sri lanka (french)
Turkey (Turkiye) Flag
sri lanka (turkish)
Turkmenistan Flag
şri-lanka (turkmen)
Turks and Caicos Islands Flag
sri lanka (english)
Tuvalu Flag
- (tuvaluan) | sri lanka (english)


U V W X Y Z  
Uganda Flag
sri lanka (english)
Ukraine Flag
шрі ланка [shri lanka] (ukrainian)
United Arab Emirates (UAE) Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic)
United Kingdom (UK) Flag
sri lanka (english)
United States of America (USA) Flag
sri lanka (english)
Uruguay Flag
sri lanka (spanish)
US Virgin Islands Flag
sri lanka (english)
Uzbekistan Flag
shri lanka (uzbek)
Vanuatu Flag
sri lanka (english) | sri lanka (french)
Vatican City (Holy See) Flag
sri lanka (latin) | sri lanka (italian)
Venezuela Flag
sri lanka (spanish)
Vietnam Flag
sri lanka (vietnamese)
Wallis and Futuna Flag
sri lanka (french) | - (wallisian) | - (futunan)
Yemen Flag
سيريلانكا [sirilanika] (arabic)
Zambia Flag
sri lanka (english)
Zimbabwe Flag
sri lanka (english) | shiri ranga (shona) | - (northern ndebele)

09| LGBTQIA+ REFUGEE TOOLS

All those people fleeing
bombs, bullets and tyrants
Typically, becoming a refugee is not a choice; instead, it happens. Events or circumstances result in people leaving their homes, regions or countries fleeing for their lives. Wars, violence or persecution are the cause in most cases. When people are forced to flee, they often travel to safer countries to seek asylum.

Refugees

| OVERVIEW

Many countries worldwide have improved the rights and protections of community members; however, with over 60 countries still criminalising same-sex relationships, many are still in danger. Furthermore, over ten countries still hand down a death sentence as a maximum penalty if prosecuted, meaning LGBTQIA+ people today face persecution and substantial personal risks to their lives.

For the millions of LGBTQIA+ individuals living in hostile countries, accepting their sexuality or gender identity can see them become a target and create considerable risks to their personal safety and lives. Leaving their homes, family, and all they have ever known, travelling to a new, safer country for many is the only option. Making a decision based on religious or sexual beliefs is a significant step for many. They are constantly aware that deciding to seek asylum based on these grounds could mean they will likely never return home.
Discover all of the refugee and migrant resources on Gayther
Understand more about refugees and migrants, definitions and meanings
Learn more about what it means to be an LGBTQIA+ refugee or migrant

Refugee

| MEANING

The term refugee describes a person or group of individuals forced to leave their home due to war, violence or persecution. Refugees will have crossed one or more international borders to find safety in another country, and returning home would likely endanger their lives. Members of the United Nations, also known as the UN, defined the terms and treatments related to refugees. However, the word has had a specific meaning over the past thirty years. It has been used to describe anyone looking to start a life in a new country that is safe or has a more robust economy.

A significant development occurred in 2012 when the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees amended the guidelines to allow those seeking asylum to do so on the grounds of persecution due to a person’s gender or sexual orientation. However, the challenge for many seeking asylum on those grounds is proving it to officials or assessors.
A tool displays the local name of a country in local languages with links to Gayther resources
A tool for any refugee or those in a position to assist in communicating and explaining their situation
Access the directory and discover all of the charities, organisations and groups
Discover more on Gayther
LGBTQIA+ REFUGEES
To learn more about all things relating to LGBTQIA+ refugees, we have created links to relevant tools, services, and guides.
Gayther Resources - Refugees

Search

| SPECIALIST DIRECTORIES

The big directory comprises fourteen groups and over one thousand categories, from travel accommodation to home maintenance

There are thousands of events taking place, it is not always easy to know what is going on and when, Gayther can help

The Care Providers and Services directory lists businesses and services that are inclusive and welcoming to all

There are millions of non-profit organisations, advice services, and support groups worldwide, all designed to help you

The term refugee describes a person or group of individuals forced to leave their home due to war, violence or persecution

10 | DISCOVER MORE

When we explore, we learn; the more we know, the greater our
understanding of the world
Gayther is a positive platform for everyone. One that empowers people to understand more about the LGBTQIA+ community by dispelling misinformation, to showcase all aspects of the exceptional and diverse global community and all that it contributes to the world
Learn more about Gayther; it’s history, values and mission
Discover Gayther Care, a site dedicated to community support and care
Discover all about the LGBTQIA+ community from the many resources available
Planning a trip? Gayther provides extensive country guides for every country across the globe
Find the information you need quickly with the wide range of guides available on Gayther
Be inspired and have some fun, with a wide range of articles, personality tests, quizzes and crosswords on offer
Never miss a story, offer or event again. By subscribing to Gayther, you will receive the latest news, articles, upcoming events, and so much more straight to your mailbox
Discover more about sexuality, from the various identities to inspiring content and information
Discover more about the unique and diverse gender identities within the LGBTQIA+ community
Discover more about the special groups and the people and organisations supporting and helping the LGBTQIA+ community
Not sure what you are looking for? There are many ways to find what you need quickly; the search section provides links to the many search services
Impress your friends with key facts and keep updated on the latest developments and trends within the community
Discover Gayther Trinary, three unique services focused on the different aspects and requirements of the LGBTQIA+ community
Discover more on Gayther
MORE
To learn more about all things relating to Gayther, we have created links to relevant tools, services and guides
Gayther Guides - Discover
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: The information displayed on this page is for illustrative purposes only and does not constitute advice. It is essential that before travelling that you independently establish information relating specifically to your requirements and circumstances. Though we endeavour to keep all information across the site updated, we do not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of any information displayed. The languages and terms featured on this page are literal translations and have not been validated or verified. The service is provided free of charge, and by using it, you accept that you are doing so at your own risk. This page may contain external links to third party websites; Gayther provides these links for your convenience and does not endorse, warrant or recommend any particular products or services. By clicking on any external links, you will leave Gayther and be taken to the third-party website, which you do so at your own risk and by accessing the site, you will be required to comply with the external third party’s terms and conditions of use and privacy policies. If you believe any of the information contained within this page is incorrect, please report this guide using the option found on this page or by clicking here